Problem:

HTTP Error 403.1 - Forbidden: Execute access is denied, after installing MS CRM 4.0

Problems installing Microsoft CRM 4.0 on a Windows 2003 R2 server with Microsoft SQL 2005 SP2. When running the MS CRM install program the pre-flight check passes on all tests and the install completes with no errors. Reboot the server and when you navigate to http://myserver:5555/ the error "HTTP Error 403.1 - Forbidden: Execute access is denied" is displayed.

Tried installing MS CRM on the "Default Web Site" and also on a seperate site on port 5555 but still the same error.

Solution:

The problem is in the MS CRM installer. At the point the installer is creating the web site in IIS (Internet Information Services) the installer does a iisreset rather than a iisreset /noforce.

To fix this problem follow the below steps.

1. Navigate to C:\Windows\System32\iisreset.exe and right click on the file called iisreset.exe and select properties.
2. Select the security options and change all security options from allow to deny and then click ok
3. Now install MS CRM 4.0 as normal.
4. During the installation you will get an error about registering the new site. At this point navigate back to C:\Windows\System32\iisreset.exe and right click on the file called iisreset.exe and select properties.
5. Return the security permissions back to allow and click ok
6. Then from a command prompt (Start -> Run -> CMD) type iisreset /noforce and wait for the command to complete successfully
7. Once again navigate back to C:\Windows\System32\iisreset.exe and right click on the file called iisreset.exe and select properties this time change the security permissions from allow to deny any click ok.
8. Go back to the MS CRM installer dialog box with the error and select "ignore" this will now complete the MS CRM installation.
9. Once the install has finished navigate to C:\Windows\System32\iisreset.exe and right click on the file called iisreset.exe and select properties.
10. Return the security permissions back to allow.
11. Reboot the server.